tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239140084937897595.post8169090845635092268..comments2023-10-19T10:26:30.108-04:00Comments on Yin and Yang: Fight or Flight Versus MindfulnessUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239140084937897595.post-16375509502937156112012-01-20T04:01:36.364-05:002012-01-20T04:01:36.364-05:00Kate,
As Karen mentioned, Schizophrenia involves ...Kate, <br />As Karen mentioned, Schizophrenia involves depression for many people. I hope that meditation and positive thoughts help you, but I also would advise you to consider taking an antidepressant medication, as many people with Schizophrenia do, in order to combat your depression, should it not immediately go away. I have Schizoaffective Disorder and I have to take an antidepressant every day to function. I am lucky, in that Wellbutrin works well for me. <br /><br />But when I do have depressive episodes, I do the same thing as you, where I lie in bed and don't function. I also get the negative symptoms of psychosis that will also cause me to lie in bed and not function, and sometimes it is hard to differentiate between that and depression, but when you are dwelling on the problems and past mistakes in your life, that is usually depression. For me depression usually leads to suicidality eventually. I hope that you do not get to that point, which is why I would advise you to consider an antidepressant or at least talk to your doctor about it.<br /><br />I know that medication doesn't cure everything, obviously. But it can help with many things.Feminist Voice with Disabilitieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971702402040080054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239140084937897595.post-12950709417823986372012-01-19T10:04:57.478-05:002012-01-19T10:04:57.478-05:00Dear Kate,
The good thing is that you can start m...Dear Kate,<br /><br />The good thing is that you can start meditating whenever you please. If you haven't been practicing Buddhism then you can start again whenever you decide. I do think you are right that you will have less depression if you are more active with meditation.<br /><br />I get very irritated when I don't paint. I'm looking at next week being a busy week with some obligations and several days I won't be able to paint. But what I'm gonna do after my obligations is walk the dog, which stimulates my endorphins. So while I can't be creative, at least I can get exercise.<br /><br />I find that to keep depression at bay, all I need is one activity to say, "I did it!" and be proud of myself. Some days this is simply taking a shower. But I don't have to be like other people, I don't have to take what I do for granted, instead I carefully nurture my sense of self by giving credit and encouragement for the tiniest things.<br /><br />I agree with you that being creative is being in the moment, but since it involves intellect and judgement and expression it is not the same as empty mind of meditation. Creativity is full of mind, full of zest and effort, while meditation is more primitive, more of the core self, and slowed down. To beat depression I think it good that you do both, since they are both different and positive to you mentally.<br /><br />I've had a long history with depression including major depression in my youth and there was at the time on the unit in my hospital the slogan "you have to fake it until you make it". Depression is something to be combated, unlike schizophrenia, which strange to say, its good to make friends with schizophrenia - at least accept the weirdness. But depression is something that will power comes into play, more so than any other form of mental illness. You have to will yourself to do activities when you are depressed because in the act of doing the activities the depression often lifts or is more bearable. I remember "forgetting" that I was depressed for short lengths of time, little vacations from the emotional sadness and pain.<br /><br />I think most of all its encouraging that your depression isn't steady, it comes and goes, that means it can be manipulated out of your life. I hope. I don't know how depression might be a product of schizophrenia, that would make it more tenacious. I saw a short documentary on the New York Times website about a man with schizophrenia who was writing a book about his disease. He mentioned four types of delusion, and one of the delusions he catagorized feeling bad about yourself to such a degree that the negativity is psychotic. I remember thinking at the time - right on!- this isn't standard psychology to link psychosis to negative self esteem, but he sensed that the link was there. Who knows, schizophrenia is so devastating that depression and negative self worth are natural states to slip into given the quality of life that schizophrenia imposes. Meditation will lift quality of life for you with mindfulness practice..........you aren't my only schizophrenic friend who practices meditation. My other friend is militant about how helpful it is to him........he commands me to do meditation! <br /><br />I will try it should I become more symptomatic.<br /><br />Good luck,<br />all my love,<br />KarenKaren May Sorensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14436905322393073250noreply@blogger.com